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Uncovering The Truth In A Financial Crime

In a recent case involving a bank cashier accused of stealing money from elderly customers, our crime and fraud team analysed vast amounts of electronic data and other evidence to piece together the Defendant’s actions at the request of their legal team. We created a precise chronology of events, which the lawyers used to assess their client’s position and advise accordingly. The case is yet another example of the added value our forensic accountants can bring to crime and fraud matters.

The Defendant was a cashier at a national bank. He stood accused of stealing money from the savings accounts of elderly customers over a period of 3 years. The bank passed the matter over to the Police, who launched a criminal prosecution.

The case involved a significant amount of complex evidence, including computer access records, handwritten savings account records, bank statements, analysis and schedules. There was a notable lack of any useful detailed witness evidence to contextualise the data. Unsurprisingly, given the circumstances, the Defendant’s legal advisors struggled to interpret and follow the evidence for the purposes of assessing the strength of their client’s defence, which was a straight denial of any involvement.

We were tasked with collating and analysing the information and arranging it in a clear chronological record for use by the Defendant’s legal team alongside the CCTV evidence. By using the advanced techniques and innovative technologies at our disposal, we forensically analysed extensive data and developed a clear understanding of the Defendant’s activities over a several year period. We established that the Defendant would target a specific bank account and make cash withdrawals from it over a number of months. He would subsequently repay the sums stolen using a lump sum taken from his next victim’s bank account. This approach allowed the Defendant’s crimes to go undetected for over three years.

Our investigations also uncovered the Defendant’s significant personal financial problems, caused primarily by a gambling habit. The Defendant had been replacing his losses of around £100,000 per year with cash deposits from unidentifiable sources. Those cash deposits tallied with the cash withdrawals we had identified as having been made from the victims’ bank accounts.

Our work resulted in the Defendant being unable to maintain his denial of guilt. We ascertained that he had made criminal cash withdrawals amounting to over £700,000, although the victims’ actual losses were around half of that figure.

Frenkels Forensics Chartered Accountants is a leading forensic accountancy firm with a Head Office in London and a network of regional offices. Crime and fraud work is central to our practice. Led by Marc Clifton, our team uses their forensic accountancy expertise, financial analysis skills and practical experience to unravel vast quantities of data quickly and accurately.

We can uncover facts that have evaded others and swiftly develop a clear picture of the Defendant’s activities. Often, this significantly reduces their liability. Sometimes, it proves their wrongdoing. We cannot make the guilty innocent, but we are experts in uncovering the truth. Our involvement arms a Defendant’s legal team with the information they need to effectively advise and represent their client.

We provide a full range of forensic accountancy services to support criminal or fraud cases, including the following:

• CPR-compliant reports.
• Desktop reports.
• Letters of advice.
• Data analysis.
• Computer forensics.
• Acting as expert witnesses.

If you would like to discuss any criminal or fraud-related matter that you think we might be able to help with, simply reply to this email or call us on 0330 118 8200 and ask for Marc Clifton. We offer a free, no-obligation quote and will be delighted to talk things through with you.

To discover more, please call us on 0330 118 8200 or Make An Online Enquiry.

“Your report was a herculean task and put us in an incredibly strong position. Thank you ever so much for the work and advice you have provided . The report was clear and accessible and will not hesitate to recommend you all.”

Solicitor

“I am indebted to you for your contribution, and for explaining things in plain English such that even lawyers can understand the issues”

Solicitor

“It was a pleasure working with you on what was a rather difficult case”

Solicitor